Saturday, June 27, 2009

Bust yields drugs, guns

Gerald Garner Jr. El Defensor Chieftain Editor

GGARNER A pair of brothers face charges of trafficking heroin following a June 17 bust in Luis Lopez.

Eighteen-year-old Joe D. Lopez and his brother, Joshua Lopez, 20 were taken into custody last week after Socorro County Sheriff's deputies and Socorro Police Department narcotics agents executed a search warrant, and found heroin and much more.

Deputy Chris Pino, who spearheaded the June 17 raid, said a series of undercover narcotics buys led to the brothers' arrest.

"We conducted several controlled buys at the Lopez residence in Luis Lopez over a two-month period," Pino said. "Each time we bought heroin."

The criminal complaint alleges Joe D. Lopez and Joshua Lopez sold the drugs during the controlled buys.

When agents descended upon the home they found the brothers, their father, Joe Lopez' 17-year-old girlfriend and the couple's 1-year-old son.

The search eventually yielded a bag containing a "black-brown colored sticky rock substance," later identified as 3.5 grams of heroin. Agents also discovered a whiskey bottle with marijuana seeds, a digital scale, three smoking pipes, 10 long rifles and four handguns.

All evidence was collected and processed. The brothers were arrested and charged with trafficking heroin (a second-degree felony), possession of marijuana (misdemeanor) and possession of drug paraphernalia (misdemeanor).

Pino said he was happy to have a hand in getting the heroin off Socorro County's streets.

"For us it's critical to get as much of the drugs off the streets as we can," Pino said. "These arrests will hopefully prevent needless tragedies."

Pino was quick to offer praise to all of the participating officers and agents.

"The Socorro P.D. and their narcotics agents were a tremendous help," Pino said. "We look forward to working closely with them in the future so we can continue our efforts to keep our communities safer."

Preliminary hearings for Joe D. Lopez and Joshua Lopez are scheduled for Tuesday, June 30, at 1 p.m.

If convicted on all charges, the brothers could face up to nine years in prison and fines totaling $10,000.

As of press time Friday, both the brothers remained incarcerated at the Socorro County Detention Center.

ggarner@dchieftain.com

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